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Last updated: October 2026.
Hemp was once a common crop on Irish farms, grown for rope, sailcloth and linen-like fabric. Today, interest is back, from farmers looking for a new rotation crop to people curious about CBD. But growing hemp in Ireland is tightly controlled. This guide explains how licensing works, what you can and cannot do with the crop, and the practical realities of growing it.
The short answer
- You need a licence. Growing hemp in Ireland requires a licence from the Minister for Health under section 14 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. The HPRA processes applications.
- Only approved varieties with no more than 0.3% THC, listed in the EU Common Catalogue, can be grown.
- Only the stalks, fibre and seeds can be used. The leaves and flowers are controlled and must be destroyed.
- You cannot grow hemp for CBD in Ireland, because CBD is concentrated in the flowers.
Who issues hemp licences in Ireland?
Hemp is a variety of Cannabis sativa, so in Irish law it is treated as cannabis unless a licence says otherwise. Licences are granted by the Minister for Health. The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), the State body that regulates medicines and controlled drugs, processes the applications on the Department of Health’s behalf.
If you are thinking of applying, the HPRA’s controlled drugs team is the place to start. You can contact them at [email protected] for the current application form, conditions and timelines.
What the licence allows, and what it does not
| Part of the plant | Allowed under a licence? | Typical uses |
|---|---|---|
| Stalks and fibre | Yes | Insulation, hempcrete, animal bedding, textiles, composites |
| Seeds | Yes | Hemp seed oil, hemp hearts, hemp protein, animal feed |
| Leaves | No, must be destroyed | (Controlled) |
| Flowers | No, must be destroyed | (Controlled; where most CBD is found) |
In answers to Dáil questions in February 2025, the Government confirmed that licence applicants must sign an undertaking that the leaves and flowers will not be processed or sold on, and will be destroyed. That is why Irish hemp farmers cannot supply CBD producers, and why almost all CBD sold in Ireland is made from hemp grown elsewhere in the EU.
The THC limit: 0.3%
Since 2023, EU farm rules allow industrial hemp varieties with up to 0.3% THC (it was previously 0.2%). Only varieties listed in the EU Common Catalogue of Varieties of Agricultural Plant Species can be grown, and crops can be tested.
Remember that this 0.3% figure is a farming rule about which plants can be grown. It is not a legal limit for THC in finished products. In Ireland, food products containing THC at any level are treated as controlled drugs, as we explain in is CBD oil legal in Ireland?.
How to apply for a hemp licence: step by step
- Plan early. Licences are issued per season, so start the process well before you intend to sow in late April or May.
- Contact the HPRA for the current application form and guidance.
- Choose an approved variety from the EU Common Catalogue, and source certified seed from a reputable supplier.
- Provide site details, including the location and size of the land you plan to use.
- Agree to the conditions, including the undertaking to destroy leaves and flowers.
- Keep records of seed, sowing, harvest and destruction, and be ready for inspection.
- Reapply each year. Licences currently run for one year at a time.
How many hemp licences are issued?
Department of Health figures reported in 2025 show 55 licences issued in 2022, 27 in 2023 and 33 in 2024, with 20 issued by July 2025. Most applications are approved, but the number of growers remains small.
Growing hemp: the agronomy
Teagasc, the Irish agriculture and food development authority, publishes guidance on industrial hemp. In summary:
- Soil: hemp prefers deep, humus-rich soil but has been grown on a wide range of soil types.
- Sowing: from late April into May with a conventional seed drill, once soil temperatures have risen.
- Fibre crops: sown densely and usually mown in August, then left in the field for three to four weeks to “ret” before baling.
- Dual-purpose crops (seed and fibre): usually direct-combined in August or September; Teagasc reports seed yields of around 1.25 tonnes per hectare are possible.
- Inputs: moderate nitrogen; hemp grows quickly and tends to smother weeds.
Hemp vs cannabis: what is the difference?
Botanically, hemp and cannabis are the same species, Cannabis sativa. The difference is in how they are bred and used. Industrial hemp varieties are bred for strong fibre and good seed yields, with very low THC. Cannabis grown for drug use is bred for flowers with high THC.
Irish law draws the line with licensing rather than with the plant name. Approved industrial hemp varieties can be grown under licence, and only for their stalks, fibre and seeds. Without a licence, any cannabis plant, however low its THC, is a controlled drug. Hemp seed foods, such as hemp seed oil, hemp hearts and hemp protein, are a separate category again: they are ordinary foods with strict EU limits on THC traces.
Hemp as a rotation crop
Part of hemp’s appeal is agronomic. It grows fast, its dense canopy tends to smother weeds, and its deep roots can help soil structure, which is why some growers use it as a break crop between cereals. It is also often discussed for its potential in low-carbon building materials such as hempcrete. These benefits are real, but they depend on having a buyer and a processor lined up before you sow.
The reality: is growing hemp viable in Ireland?
Honestly, it is challenging. A Department of Agriculture consultation in 2022 concluded that growing hemp purely for fibre is not currently viable in Ireland, largely because there is little processing infrastructure here, so fibre has to be exported. Growers have also called for licences to be simplified and extended from one year to five years.
Some farmers do grow hemp successfully, often for seed, as a break crop in rotation, or as part of a co-operative with a processing partner lined up in advance. If you are considering it, talk to Teagasc and to existing growers before committing land.
Can I grow hemp for CBD in Ireland?
No. Under the current licensing system, the flowers, which is where CBD is concentrated, must be destroyed. Growing cannabis plants at home, including so-called “CBD strains”, is illegal without a licence, and licences are not granted for this purpose. Read more in is CBD bud legal in Ireland?.
Where does Irish CBD come from, then?
Almost all CBD sold in Ireland is extracted from EU-grown industrial hemp, processed under controlled conditions, then tested and blended into products such as oils and gummies. At Dr. Hemp Me, every batch is independently lab tested for its cannabinoid content, THC, heavy metals and pesticides, and the reports are on each product page. Browse our CBD oils.
A short history of hemp in Ireland
Hemp was grown in Ireland for centuries, mainly for rope and coarse cloth, and it was particularly important for ships’ rigging. Flax, used for linen, eventually became the dominant fibre crop, especially in Ulster. Hemp largely disappeared from Irish farms in the twentieth century as synthetic fibres arrived and drug laws tightened, before licensed industrial hemp returned on a small scale in recent decades.
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal to grow hemp in Ireland?
Yes, but only with a licence from the Minister for Health under section 14 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. Applications are processed by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA). Growing any cannabis plant without a licence is illegal.
Who issues hemp licences in Ireland?
The Department of Health grants the licence, and the HPRA processes applications on its behalf. You can contact the HPRA controlled drugs team at [email protected] for advice.
What THC level is allowed for hemp in Ireland?
Only approved industrial hemp varieties with no more than 0.3% THC, as listed in the EU Common Catalogue of Varieties of Agricultural Plant Species, can be grown.
Can Irish hemp farmers sell the flowers or leaves?
No. The leaves and flowers remain controlled. Licence holders sign an undertaking that they will not process or sell them and that they will be destroyed. Only the stalks, fibre and seeds can be used.
How long does a hemp licence last?
Licences are issued for a year at a time, so growers need to reapply each season.
Can I grow hemp at home for CBD?
No. A licence is only granted for industrial hemp grown for fibre and seed, and the flowers that contain CBD must be destroyed. Growing cannabis plants at home, including “CBD strains”, is illegal.
How many hemp licences are issued in Ireland?
Figures released by the Department of Health show 55 licences issued in 2022, 27 in 2023 and 33 in 2024, with 20 issued by July 2025.
When is hemp sown and harvested in Ireland?
Hemp is usually sown from late April into May and harvested in August or September, depending on whether it is grown for fibre, seed or both.
Sources
- Dáil Éireann written answers on hemp farming, 6 February 2025
- Agriland (July 2025): licences to cultivate hemp for fibre use
- Teagasc: Industrial hemp production
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (2022): report on consultation on the potential for growing fibre crops
This guide is general information, not legal or agronomic advice. Check with the HPRA and Teagasc for the current requirements before applying.
